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Maria Barbara Garrido Guerrero Manibusan

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 19 June 2013

My mother-in-law, Maria Barbara Garrido Guerrero Manibusan (Bobbie) is an amazing woman! Her parents are the late Jose Crisostomo Guerrero (Manggåfan Robat) and Maria Leon Guerrero Garrido (Manggåfan Enriken Måtak).

At the very young age of 16, she fell deeply in love with her soul-mate and married Joaquin (Kin) Taitano Manibusan (Manggåfan Le’le). Together my in-laws had and raised eight children, which of course included my wife Josephine Marie (Fena). This essay is going to be one of the rarest moments I will ever call my mother-in-law Bobbie, and father-in-law, Kin.

For the next 18 years of Bobbie’s marriage to Kin, she dedicated much of her time and attention towards raising their children. Unless you have ever tried, raising eight children with extremely limited resources is quite an obvious challenge. Another challenge called for a certain balance on ensuring all eight children receive equal portions of her love, time and attention. I should know I too come from a family of eight siblings!

I also had a chance to observe the dynamics of my wife’s family, since we were married some 20 years after her parents were married. I then became the oldest of the siblings and six of eight children were still in school at the time! I literally had the opportunity with my wife to help share in the upbringing of some of her siblings. Ah, but I digress…

So back to Bobbie…She was about 36, when I married Fena. Amazingly during that time, Bobbie was in her second year of studies at the University of Guam (UOG). So between raising eight children and the added strains of studies, it compounded her challenges. Talk about i Fuetsan Nana; absolutely incredible!

In addition, she was studying hard towards her goal of becoming a special education teacher for Guam’s public school system. However, because she was married and started having children at a young age, she withdrew from high school. It turned out to be a lengthy sabbatical; but she was determined, tested out and received her General Education Development(GED) high school equivalent, prior to enrolling at UOG. At the age of 38, she achieved her dream and was awarded her Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree from UOG.

Shortly after her graduation, she became a teacher. She taught devotedly within Guam’s public school system. During her teaching years, the family would get together towards the end of the summer and help her prepare her assigned class room for the opening school year. During several occasions, when the government’s budget was quite lean, this involved personal purchases such as paint her classroom, an air condition to ensure her students remain cool during the day, and decorating her class to the point where her students can feel the aura of comfort and that learning can also be a fun experience. Indeed, Bobbie and Kin spent a lot of personal time and funds for the benefit of her students.

Unfortunately, due to health conditions she had no choice but to accept a medical retirement. Bobbie has an ailing heart condition and her diabetic condition has also been problematic. Despite having a teaching career and an unfortunate end to it (at least with the public), she has always remained the backbone of her family. Bobbie is known for her creativity and to this very day, although not as often as before, she continues to engage the children in arts and crafts learning activities.

Sundays are indeed, a day of God and a day of family unity and gatherings. Practically every Sunday, we meet up at the family compound in Mogfog. Once we are there, it seems like we are in another world, because nothing else seems to exist except family time! We have many beautiful photos and video recordings covering our family gatherings. We would even have exclusive performances from her grandchildren.

Everyone’s a winner!  

Bobbie’s maternal love, instincts and guidance for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will remain eternal. We are drawn by these strengths that seem to bring us back for more.

I am deeply honored by her wealth of love and inspired by her determination and accomplishments! I am also very blessed to be a part of this family! Hu guaiya hao Mom! 

Judge Ignacio Villagomez Benavente

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 12 June 2013

(Note: The source of this information and photos are from the, “Footprints on the sands of time: Judge Ignacio V. Benavente,” by Sister Felicia Plaza, MMB, published in the Guam Recorder, 1976, Volume 6.)

Tun Ignacio was born in Saipan on July 9, 1898 to the parents of Fernando Benavente and Dolores Villagomez. His father Fernando was from Guam and is a descendant of a Spaniard who was shipwrecked near Guam sometime between1830-1835. He was the first born of five children. In 1925, he married Rita Arriola and together they had ten children.

During Tun Ignacio’s early years, his schooling from 1905 to 1913 was under the German administration. He was known to have a knack for quickly absorbing languages and mastered Spanish and German early on in life. While on Guam in the early 1920’s and taking care of his sick grandmother, he learned English. Later in life he would become self-taught in reading and writing French and prior to his death he was in the process of learning Russian. He was a very intelligent man indeed, despite never having completed college.

From 1913-1915 he worked on the island of Yap as a cable and radio operator. From there he was transferred to Saipan where he stayed until 1937. In 1937, he decided to move his wife and children to Yap where he bought enough land for his family. He did not want to stay on Saipan after observing that over 20,000 Japanese had taken over the economic progress of the Chamorro people, for the sake of the Japanese government’s support of the Sugar Company.

While in Yap, Tun Ignacio served as Commissioner for the Chamorros from 1942-1946. He also became a Deacon for the Catholic Church, when the Japanese expelled all Catholic missionaries. As a side note, some of these Catholic missionaries were imprisoned in Palau and later beheaded by the Japanese. So in the absence of the Catholic missionaries from 1944-1946, it was he who baptized children, led the services and witnessed the marriages in Yap.

From 1946-1948 Tun Ignacio worked for the United States Commercial Company. In 1947, he was sent to Hawaii for one year to attend a special agricultural extension course. Upon his completion in 1948, he became the agricultural agent for Saipan.

In 1950, he made another trip to Hawaii and while there and under the joint auspices of the Navy and Pacific Sciences Board, he was able to study the sugar industry, soil conservation and the raising of coffee.

From 1949-1952 he was active in the Saipan Congress. From 1951-1953 he served as the Judge of the District Court, Mariana Islands, and Special Judge of the High Court. From 1953-1963 he served as the Mayor of Saipan. Following that he was back on the bench of justice and served another eight years from 1963-1975.

On April 27, 1974, the late Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores honored Tun Ignacio with a Papal Award, the Benemerenti Medal.

Tun Ignacio was very active and instrumental in moving forward stronger political status relations with the U.S. He was alive to witness the Northern Marianas approval of the covenant to establish the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas political union with the U.S. on June 17, 1975.

Three days later on June 20, 1975 the Chamorro people would mourn the unexpected and sudden death of Tun Ignacio. His death occurred shortly after performing what would be his last charity visit to a friend who was ill and lonely. Tun Ignacio left behind an incredible legacy described as “one who was symbolic of the finest and the best in the heritage of the Chamorro people.”

Database Update 7 Jun 2013

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 07 June 2013

The database has been updated and has grown from 294,739 to 296,355 names.

Pre-1900s Births in June (Sampling)

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 05 June 2013